Ask a Dietitian

Hi Marissa! What’s going on is the interpretation of a recent study reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Researchers looked at the amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in a variety of seafood. You’ve no doubt heard of the health benefits associated with omega-3 fats, found predominantly in seafood. Omega-6 fats are prevalent in vegetable oils including soybean oil, safflower oil, and corn oil.  Americans tend to eat too much omega-6 and too little omega-3 fats.

One conclusion of this new study was that fish with less omega-3 content than omega-6, including tilapia, might actually be harmful to heart health. As you can imagine this was controversial since hundreds of studies have shown the protective effect of fish intake. 
 
While it is true that not all fish are created equal -- much like not all fruits and vegetables are created equal -- the important thing to remember is that a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lowfat dairy, and lean meats and seafood, including tilapia, remains the cornerstone for good health.